The Green New Deal

JILL STEIN

Her Political Perspectives on Cannabis Culture

By Brant Hartsell

 

Former presidential candidate, and Green Party member, Jill Stein, shared a few words about her perspective on the future of the cannabis market and the industry’s culture at the Humboldt County Cup on November 18, 2017 at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds in Eureka, California. She enthusiastically remarked “the cannabis community is moving forward like a vision and a people’s movement; the community must remain organized and networked to battle the corporate takeover many individuals fear in the industry.”

Stein illustrated a positive attitude for the future of the recreational industry in California, discussing its prospect as a springboard to a community-based economy. “Corporate takeover is a crime,” she stated, “California has a very established and integrated cannabis community,” which gives it the potential to fight corporate involvement. She showed a lot of hope for small farmers and believes that it is conceivable to bring small businesses back to the center of our economy.

Jill Stein photographed by Even More at the 2017 Humboldt County Cannabis Cup

“We need an economy that works for us and provides actual human resources,” said Stein, who cited the 64 percent of the U.S. population that now supports the full legalization of cannabis, and that the warnings and fears that have [been] predicted about legalization are statistically false.

Stein also emphasized the reduction in opioid use and overdose rates in states with legal cannabis policies. She also highlighted how billions of dollars will be removed from the criminal market, a massive step forward to end the War on Drugs.

Ultimately, Jill is proud to support cannabis and sees the cannabis community as a platform for the Green Party Movement. She sees the industry as a way to jumpstart our economy, and push for green energy. She argues that the nation can save money on healthcare costs by moving towards green energy and wishes to see this shift completed by 2030.

The Green Party is well aware that corporations are a strong force in our country’s political process and does not believe it is right to have institutional domination. The party refuses corporate funding. Members believe this makes them a direct voice for the people they represent. Stein believes real change will never come from our bipartisan system, or the institutions which support them.

The party has created a framework of legislation they call the “Green New Deal,” a four-part program to deal with our current economic and social crisis.

The first part, labeled the “Economic Bill of Rights,” promotes a locally controlled, direct employment initiative, which will replace unemployment offices with regional employment as well as address the need for accessible healthcare, free public education, affordable housing and fair taxation.

The second part, titled “A Green Transition” deals with investment in green business and cooperatives, which will focus on locally based companies while prioritizing green research and green jobs.

The third section, “Real Financial Reform,” breaks up oversized banks and relieves debt by reducing homeowner and student expenses as well as regulating all financial derivatives, requiring them to be openly traded.

The fourth and final tenet, “A Functioning Democracy,” considers the replacement of current partisan oversight of electoral processes, and abolishes big money control of campaigns and the electoral college. This initiative seeks to protect personal liberty and freedoms as well as reduce military spending.

Essentially, the Green Party wishes to cooperate with the cannabis community to push for a return to community-based economics, where local populations are at the heart of decision-making processes. This is a vision that will return the control of communities back to the people, with an eye toward sustainability and freedom from corporate influence.

The Green Party is not only a movement for the environment, but also a voice for social justice, freedom, and a functioning democracy.